Reviews.

too early . Thus the almanack before us contains the latest post office regulations , which were only published on the 28 th December , whilst the comp ilers have added a distinctive feature peculiar to this work , by giving the last minute at which letters can be received at the several railway stations , prior to the starting of each train .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

STRAND THEATRE . On the evening of the 14 th inst ., after the performance of "Lawrence ' s Love Suit" and " Grin Bushes , " a new farce by Mr . Charles Smith Cheltnam , entitled " Mrs . Green ' s Snug Little Business , " was produced . Mrs . Green , a widow , with a snug business , is discovered making up her accounts , and from statements she makes

, it appears that the business is increasing most satisfactorily . This fact has already become known to several would-be candidates for her hand . Thus a clerk in a public office , Mr . John Battleton ( Mr . Belford ) , offers his hand , he having £ 90 per annum , with a prospect of superannuation ; then Mr . liapps , a policeman ( Mr . Thomas Thorne ); Bung , the beadle of St . Bott ' s ( Mr .

H . J . Turner ) , clad in gaudy array , conceives that a parochial officer cannot urge his suit in vain ; tho waterrate collector ( Mr . Collier ) , and Mrs . Green ' s shop-boy ( Mr . L . Fredericks ) , all declare they arc ready to die for the widow ; but the policeman on duty carries off the prize of the widow , and the snug "little business . Miss Maria Simpson made the most of the character of Mrs . Green . There are several laughable incidents and situations , and the piece was well received .

LIFEBOAT SERVICES . It is gratifying to learn that , during the year which has just closed , the lifeboats of the National Lifeboat Institution saved 426 lives from various shipwrecks , in addition to contributing to the saving of 37 vessels . It also appears that , in addition to the above number , 266 lives have been saved during the same

period by shore boats and other means from different wrecks on the coasts of the United Kingdom , for which the Institution had granted rewards ,- thus making a total of G 92 lives saved from various wrecks in one year alone , mainly through tho instrumentality and encouragement of the National Lifeboat Institution . For these joint services the Society has granted £ 1 , 000 in rewards , 22 honorary acknowledgments , Silver Medals , and votes vellumThe lifeboats of the

on . Society , during the past twelvemonths , havo also put off in reply to signals of distress forty-eight times ; but their services were subsequently not required , the ships having succeeded either in getting off from their dangerous positions , or had their crews saved by their own boats or other means . It often happened , on these occasions , that the lifeboat crews had incurred much risk and groat hout

exposure throug stormy days and nights . The number of lives saved either by the lifeboats of the Institution , or by special exertions for which it has granted rewards , since its formation , is 14 , 260 : for which services 82 gold medals , 742 silver medals , and £ 19 , 350 in cash , have been paid in rewards . When we remember that nearly every life saved by lifeboats Has been rescued under perilous circumstances , it will at once be what benefit has

seen great been conferred by the Lifeboat Institution , not only on the poor men themselves , but also on their wives and children , who would otherwise be widows and orphans . How inadequately can words express the ao-cn-e ° -ate amount of misery which the saving of so many thousands ot lives must have prevented ; it can only have been fully appreciated b the parties themselves and b

y , y their relatives anci friends , whose expressions of gratitude for such important benefits are of the most feeling character . Since the beginnino-* - M ££ y - eal' ( 1864 ) ' theI » stitution has also expended about ?^ Y < W on us various lifeboat establishments on the coast of England , Scotland , and Ireland ; and since its first establish-

Public Amusements.

merit the Institution has also expended £ 120 , 000 on its lifeboat stations . AY ell , then , may the poet exclaim : — Wow ye who , when the stormy wind is raging wild without , J ) o gather round the parlour fire , and shut the tempest out ; And ye who , when the billows roll'bursting on the strand , Lie snugly in your peaceful bedsand bless the solid land ;

, Think on this scene of storm , wreck , danger , and despair ; Think on these hearts of British mould , ready to do and dare ; Think on this glorious deed , the type of many more , Performed in storm and shipwreck along the rocky shore . "« A blessing on the lifeboat ! " Oh , wishher well , and pray , And give your gold aud silver to speed her on the way .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

The COURT . —Her Majesty and younger branches of the . Royal Family remain at Osborne . The Prince and Princess of AVales are still in . Norfolk , where they have been partaking of the hospitality of the neighbouring noblemen . Prince Alfred has paid a visit to Berlin . GEHEEAI . HOME BTEWS . —The weekly returns of the Registrar

General have now become of more than their former importance and value from the fact that they are no longer confined to the metropolitan district , but embrace also returns from Glasgow , Liverpool , Manchester , Salford , Edinburgh , Birmingham ,, Leeds , Bristol , and Dublin . In these ten principal cities , including the capital , the registered deaths amounted to 3 , 287 ,

and the births to 3 , 838 . In the purely English towns the mortality was at the rate of 30 in 1 , 000 per annum , which is nearly double what it is in the healthiest districts . In the metropolitan district there were 1 , 689 deaths registered ; the ten years' average , allowing for increase of population , would amount to 1 , 653 , so that the actual slightly exceeds the

estimated mortality . The greatest number of deaths arose from diseases of the respiratory organs . The births were 2 , 002 , which was slightly below the estimated average . Tuesday ' s Gazette contains tbe announcement that the Queen has conferred the dignity of the Garter upon Earl Spencer . Lady Brougham died at Brighton ] on Thursday . The deceased ladv was married to Lord Brsugham in 1819 , and had

two children—daughters—both of whom are dead . The American journals announce the death of Mr . Dallas , formerly Vice-President of the United States , but better known in this country as Mr . Adams ' s predecessor as American Minister at the British Court . It appears from the weekly report of the Poor-law Board upon the fluctuations of pauperism in the cotton unions that a decrease of 1 , 730 in the number

of persons receiving parochial relief took place in the second week of the new year . Of that number more than one-half ( 910 ) were adult able-bodied recipients . Thirteen unions exhibit diminished relief lists . Among these , Asliton-under-Lyne shows a decrease of 280 ; Bolton , 150 ; Burnley , 390 ; Bury , 250 ; Chorley , 170 ; Haslingden , 680 ; and Preston , 190 . Six

unions show no change , aud nine some increase , the three most notable iu this class being Manchester , which has 230 ; Rochdale , 130 ; and Skipton , 120 more than on the previous week . The Guardians are now disbursing about £ 3 , 000 per week less outdoor relief than they did iu the corresponding season of 1864 . AVehave since the winter commenced experienced eight weeks

of continuous decline in the numbers dependent upon the poor rates in the distressed unions , and it really seems as though we were steadily descending to the comparatively low limit we reached in August last . The report presented by Mr . Maclure to the Central Executive Committee contains much valuable information respecting the condition of the cotton manufacturing districts . Comparing the month of December with